Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1887-12-29

SENATE.
Mr.. Allison in the senate called up the
holiday recess resolution. and moved it's
adoption. Mr.. Plumb opposed the resolu-
tion because be thought that the proposed
recess was against the public interest. IA
ioag and tedious political debate sprung
up after which the adjournment resolution
Was concurred in-yeas, IL Republicans
aud 90 Democrates: nays, IL Republicans
and z Democrats.
A bill was introduced by Sen.
ator Ingalls, q amend section g OF
the act for the adjustment OF railroad
land grants SO rs to provide that when
the lands In question have been sold for
state and county taxes and the grant aft.
EDWARDS forfeited. the purchasers OF the land
shall have for one year a prior right to pur-
chas the lands from the United States at
the government price.
Senator Spooner, from the committee on
public buildings and grounds, reported
iayorably d bill for the erection OF a pub
lie building at Milwaukee, the cost Of the
site and building not toexeeed 81, zoo, 900,
or 81, 100000 in case the site oil the pres
emit building in that city is unused.
Mr.. SpoOner offered q resolution in the
senate. which was adopted, insttucting the
committee. on privileges and elections to
inquire into the ~expediency oil the adop.
ton by the senate (for the guidance OF the
executives OF the several states) OF q form
OF credentials OF the election OF United
States senators.
The senate has passed a bill the purpose
of which ia TO place the United States fish
commission upon d permanent basis.
Hitherto. the fish commission has been a
sort Of charity annex to the Smithsonian
institution.
HOUSE
The house has adopted the main body
OF last years rules with some minor
changes and unimportant additions. The
contest over the new propositions goes
over until after the holidays. There IL
still an additional proposed change. 1t 10
that the printing OF the Congressional
Record be abolished, and that the number
of copies OF each public bill to be printed
shall be reduced from 1900 to 500.
Mr.. Randall, from the committee on
rules, submitted q partial report, whi:h
recommended the adoption OF the rules oil
the Forty-ninth congress until further OF;
der, with the following changes: A stand
ing committee is established to consist oil
fifteen members to be known as
the committee on merchant marine
and fisheries. The addition OF the
DICStnldtiO ~ ~ bCtCknbV Oh u WIFI
mittee on private. land claims is recon-
mended. Private bills are to be presented
through the clerk and given proper refef-
ence by hat officer. The following select
committees are provided for: On reform
ia the civil service, to consist OF thirteen
members; on election OF president and vice
president and representatives in congress to
consist otthirteen members, on the eleventh
census. to consist Of thirteen members; on
Indian depreciation claims, to consist oil
thirteen members; on the alcoholic liquor
traffic. to consist Of eleven members. Mr..
Randall explained the proposed changes,
which he stated were, with one exception,
recommended by the unanimous vote oil
the committee on rules. That exception
was the recommendation Tor the appoint
ment OF the special COMMITTEES OF the al
coholic liquor traffic. Reed, Cannon and
himself constituted the majority OF the
committee on this question. The report
was adopted.
M
The following special senate committee
to investigate the condition OF the five
siyil;zed Indian tribes has been appointed
Messrs. Butler, Morgan, Dawes, Cameron
and Teller.
Senator Dolph introduced q bill to pro-
vide for the payment OF claims for dam
ages by Indian depredations. He said
that there were some 4.500 such claims.
agregating some fourteen or fifteen million
dollars.
Senator VOORHEES, introduced a bill to
extend the laws OF the United States, ex.
cept those providing ior p~re-emption, tim
Der culiu and desert land entries oil the
public lands. over the public land strip,
south OF the Indian Territory. 1t creates
the land district oil Cimarron.
The senate took up the resolution in
troduee3 by Mr.. Dolph proposing q con-
stitutional amendment on the subject OF
marriage and divorce, and prohibiting
bigamy and polygamy. The proposed
amendment is In the following words:
Congress shall have power to l~egislate
on the subject OF marriage and divorce by
general laws applicable alike to all states
and territories; and neither bigamy nor
poiygamy shall exist, or be permitted
within the United States or any place sub
ject to their Jurisdiction.
Mr.. Dolph spoke in support oil the reso-
luton, which IA ordered to lie on the
table
HOUSE.
The most important modification OF the
rules adopted by the house, was that which